BILL and SUE-ON HILLMAN: A 50-YEAR MUSICAL ODYSSEY
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Presents
The Hillman Rock Legends Series:
The Guess Who Connection

RANDY BACHMAN
www.hillmanweb.com/chadallan/randy.html

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Randy Bachman (September 27, 1943) is 81 years old today - in 2024 Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to parents of half-German and half-Ukrainian descent, at age three, he won a singing contest on CKY's King of the Saddle radio program. At age five he had started studying the violin in the Royal Toronto Conservatory system, but by age 12 he grew dissatisfied with the structured lessons. At age 15, Bachman saw Elvis Presley play on Tommy Dorsey's television show and the sight of the guitar around Presley's neck inspired him. He learned three chords from his cousin, then started practising on a modified Hawaiian Dobro. At age 16, Bachman met Lenny Breau and during the next two years Breau taught Bachman finger picking. Breau also introduced him to Chet Atkins' music. In 1959, Bachman bought a ticket to see Les Paul in concert at a Winnipeg supper club but could not get in as he was too young. He instead helped Paul set up before the show and also helped him reload everything into the car after the show. Still a budding guitarist at this point, Bachman asked Paul if he could teach him a guitar lick; Paul ended up teaching his version of "How High the Moon". Bachman and Chad Allan formed Al and The Silvertones in 1960, changed the name to Chad Allan and The Expressions in 1962, then to The Guess Who in 1965, the year they had a #1 hit in Canada with their cover of Johnny Kidd’s “Shakin’ All Over”, which reached #22 on the U.S. Top 40. Allan left the group in 1966, and Burton Cummings became primary vocalist. In 1969, “These Eyes” broke them in America. With their material written by Bachman and Cummings, they had a successful run of hits, but after “American Woman” in 1970, Bachman quit, due to the other band members' lifestyle choices conflicting with his beliefs upon converting to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in addition to wanting to spend more time with his family members. He was also suffering health problems related to his gall bladder and needed to be under a doctor's care, something that was difficult to do while on the road. In 1971, he and his younger brother Robbie united with Allan to found the Country-Rockish Brave Belt, who recorded two albums. C.F. Turner joined for the second album, singing most of the lead vocals, and Bachman’s brother Tim joined as a touring guitarist. Allan left after the second album was completed, as the music was getting heavier. With poor record sales, difficulty getting gigs, and being dropped from their record label, Randy took a significant financial loss, having used his Guess Who royalties to pay the other bandmembers’ salaries. A demo for a third Brave Belt album was shopped around and rejected by many record companies until Mercury Records signed them, suggested a few musical changes, and a different band name. So Bachman-Turner Overdrive they became. Their self-titled debut received good notices, their second, II, boosted by the success of the singles “Let It Ride” and “Takin’ Care of Business” became a hit, the third, Not Fragile, reached #1, as did its single “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet”. But by the sixth album, Freeways, their sales declined, and Bachman left in 1977. He recorded a solo album, two albums with a new group, Ironhorse, one album with Turner under the group name Union. Bachman later said he’d built up a net worth of $10 million, but in four years was broke due to divorce, battles over child custody, and heavy investments in music projects that failed. Beginning in the ‘80’s, there were Guess Who and BTO reunions, duos as Bachman and Turner and Bachman and Cummings, and other bands and solo projects. His children Tal and Lorelei have followed their father’s footsteps into music. ~ The Music Machine ~ James R. Nolan